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Destined for disadvantage?

Author(s)	Maurice Guiaux, Annette Roest and Jurjen Iedema
Publication date	30 August 2011
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Original title: Voorbestemd tot achterstand?

Are children who grow up in poverty destined for disadvantage? Are they still poor 25 years later, when they are adults, and are they also more socially excluded in adulthood?  And if so, why? This publication explores the extent to which poverty is transferred from generation to generation. It does this by drawing on administrative income data from 25 years ago and from the present. In a large-scale survey, the same people were then asked to look back to their childhood. In addition to poverty and social exclusion, the study looks at upbringing, health, education and labour market opportunities. Poor children are at greater risk than their more affluent peers of being poor or socially excluded in adulthood. They experience more health problems in childhood, participate less in all manner of social activities, more often attain a lower education level and are less often in (permanent) employment as adults. Education and work, in particular, are found to be key determinants of the risk of poverty and social exclusion in adulthood. Nonetheless, the majority of poor children are not poor or socially excluded in adult life.